cringe

verb
UK: /krɪndʒ/
US: /krɪndʒ/

  1. To feel very embarrassed and ashamed.

    1. I cringe when I think about that day.
    2. I cringe at the thought of singing in front of so many people.

  2. To move back slightly as if in fear or from something unpleasant.

    1. He cringed away from the barking dog.
    2. She cringed at the loud noise emanating from the construction site.

Synonyms

recoil wince flinch squirm embarrassment shame
cringe noun

  1. A feeling of embarrassment or disgust.

    1. I felt a cringe when he started singing.
    2. The whole thing was just one big cringe.
cringe adjective

  1. Causing feelings of embarrassment or disgust.

    1. That joke was so cringe.
    2. His attempt at dancing was utterly cringe.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "cringe" in English means: To feel very embarrassed and ashamed., To move back slightly as if in fear or from something unpleasant..

The phonetic transcription of "cringe" is /krɪndʒ/ in British English and /krɪndʒ/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "cringe": recoil, wince, flinch, squirm, embarrassment, shame.

Example usage of "cringe": "I cringe when I think about that day.". More examples on the page.